Jul 21, 2021 4:23pm Funds from a $26 billion settlement from the opioid crisis will be earmarked for treatment, recovery, education and prevention of opioid abuse. (Getty/BackyardProduction) Johnson & Johnson and the United States’ three largest drug distributors have agreed to a $26 billion settlement to resolve thousands of opioid lawsuits. On Wednesday, seven states unveiled the deal which will help them fund measures to combat the opioid epidemic. The agreement—by J&J, AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson—has been under negotiation for more than two years. States will have 30 days and local jurisdictions will have 150 days to enlist in the pact. J&J will fork over $5 billion over nine years, with the bulk of the payments coming over the first three years. The three distributors are on the hook for the remaining $21 billion, which will be paid over 18 years.